Cork Snake

If your kids like scaly, slithery snakes, this is a perfect craft! Great as a party favor, gift, or a fun day at home, cork snakes are made out of wine corks, brads, and eye hook screws. They are fun to put together and even more fun to play with. I'm sure your snake-loving friends will slither around in excitement!

You Will Need ...

5 wine corks

4 brads

10 small "screw eyes" 11/16" (number of screws may vary from the example provided)

After you have gathered all your materials, begin with the screw eye hooks. Gently screw one onto each side of every cork.

Step 2:

Link the corks together via the brads. Take two corks, overlap their eye hooks to create one hole, and slip one brad through the hole. Push firmly on the flat top part of the brad with one hand, so the brad doesn't slip back out of the holes.

Step 3:

Now, use your other hand to open the brad's legs, and wrap the brad legs around the eye hooks. Repeat this step three more times with your remaining corks, linking them all together.

Step 4:

Time for that sssssslithering tongue! Take your pipe cleaner and scissors. Cut the pipe cleaner in half, then cut one of the halves in half again. You'll have two pieces about 3 inches each. One will be used for the tongue, and the other will be used for the rrrrattling tail! (You won't need the remaining 6 inch piece - save it for another craft!)

Step 5:

To create the tongue, slip one pipe cleaner piece through one of the remaining eye hooks at one end of the snake.

Step 6:

Once it is about halfway through, twist the pipe cleaner together, forming the tongue. Keep twisting until there is just a bit left untwisted at the end. This will give it a "forked tongue" appearance.

Step 7:

Next step, the rattle tail! Slip the remaining pipe cleaner piece through the hook on the other end of the snake. Slip only enough through hook so that you can wrap the pipe cleaner around the hook, securing the pipe cleaner in place. Then, add some beads! String as many beads as you can fit on the rattle tail, but be sure to leave about 1/2 inch of pipe cleaner at the end.

Step 8:

Once you have finished stringing the beads, bend that 1/2 inch of pipe cleaner onto itself, creating a "stopping point" for the beads so they can't slide off.

Step 9:

All your snake needs now are some eyes! Place two small dabs of glue on the front cork (the one with the tongue attached) and stick on the googly eyes! You can also use hot glue, but please make sure an adult is around!

Step 10:

Finally, give your cork snake some cool skin! You can use colored/patterned duct tape, paint, or markers to create a unique and fabulous snake. Note: if you are thinking of painting your corks, do that before you assemble your slithering friend - it is much easier that way.